Annual hunting-inspired event raises $43K for local cancer patient

(DILLSBORO, Ind.) – A locally-organized annual event has made a major donation to a young mother and family who are battling cancer. 

Several years ago, Dustin Rump, of Dillsboro, created the Big Buck Contest where local hunters sign up before deer season to see who can harvest the biggest buck in Indiana that year. 

Rump unexpectedly passed away at the age of 32 in 2008 and the family kept the contest going in his honor, as a way to raise college funds for Dustin’s son. 

After his son reached an age where those college funds were no longer needed, a new initiative began a few years ago. 

Evan Schuler and Logan Shelton are cousins to Dustin and both had looked up to him as a role model when they were younger. 

Evan and Logan came up with the idea to turn the Dustin Rump Big Buck Contest into a way to help other local families who are battling difficult circumstances.

They expanded the contest to also include raffles and a live auction, which features items ranging from international hunting excursions, homemade pies and cheesecakes, handmade items and many other things.

Evan and Logan select a family each year to donate all of their proceeds to and their decision was simple this year.

The Caldwell Family

28-year-old Shelby Caldwell has been fighting Stage 4 Neuroendocrine Carcinoma cancer for the past several months. 

Shelby and her husband, Jacob, have two young children and she has worked as an infant teacher at God’s Bright Treasures Ministry in Bright.

Evan and Logan heard about her difficult medical journey and knew that family would be the ideal beneficiaries of the event.

The annual Dustin Rump Big Buck Contest was held at the Milan American Legion on September 12 and hundreds of people showed up to support the Caldwell family. 

“There are so many people who have seen her story, or know of her, or we just told them about Shelby and they were all about helping and raising funds that night,” Evan explained. 

Logan added, “It was incredible. We had some people bidding $350 on the cheesecakes. The support was unreal and truly is every year.” 

On Saturday, the Schuler's and Shelton's invited Shelby’s family over to give them the donation. 

The donation from the event totaled $43,000 directly to the Caldwell family. 

“It’s not us doing this, it's the community. These funds were all raised by people who attended the event and we just like to use what started as family tradition to help others in our area,” Logan said. 

Evan added, “It’s just incredible every year to see how this community rallies behind someone.”

Shelby and her family expressed immense gratitude with her even saying, “We don’t feel like we deserve this.” 

However, the organizers of the annual event assured her that she certainly does. 

Over the past three years, The Dustin Rump Big Buck Contest has raised $124,000 for three local families who are battling serious medical situations.

You can follow the Dustin Rump Big Buck Contest by clicking this link.